Stop motion fob



J. G. BAILEY.

STOP MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25, 192!- {SHEETS-SHEET 1- Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

J. G. BAILEY. STOP MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED rmzs, 1921.

1 ,407,367.. Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.I. G. BAILEY.

STOP MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,192I.

Patfilltflli Feb. 2.1, 1922.

1 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1. e. BAILEY.

STOP MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.25, 1921.

1,407,367, Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1. e. BAILEY. STOP MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES.

4 APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,1921- 1,4 O7,367, Patented Feb. 21, 11922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

J. a. BAILEY. 7 STOP' MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25.1921- Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6- J. G. BAILEY. STOP MOTION FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED 5.25. I921. 1 407 3 7 Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

7SHEETS-SHEET 7- i JAMES G-. BAILEY, F KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE s'ror MOTION ron snwrns ivracnnrns.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgafi gnfigd F E 21 1922 Application filed February 25, 1921. Serial No. l-47,845.

Knoxville, in the county of Knox and vState of Tennessee. have inventeda newand useful Improvement in Stop Motions ior dewing' Machlnes, of which the followmgrs a specification, reference being had to the a companying drawing. p

Thls invention relates to a stop mot1on'at-- tachment for sewing machines adapted particularly for machines employing a plural-- ity of'threads and the object of the invention is to provide a simple attachment which may be placed on any of the machines now in use and in which a single clutch mechanism may be operated by any one of a plurality of thread controlling devices. Thes are so arranged that a knot or ther obstruction in the thread will co-act with the attach ment to cause the shifting of a clutch so that the shaft of the machine is released from the pulley to permit the machine to come to rest, and thereby prevent the knot fron reaching and breaking the needle, and causing replacement of the same, and also permitting; damage to the article or the goods being stitched.

The invention consists in the construction,

arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter more particularly. descril'ied and then definitely claimed. In the drawings? Figure 1 shows a plan view of part of a. sewing ITlEtClllDfiOf a well known type. with;

w my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a section throughthe line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a section 2 2 of FigureQ.

Figure 3 is a section through the line 33 through line of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section through the line B -3 of Figure 3. V

Figure 4 is a rear elevation ofthe 1na chine and attachment.

Figure 5 is an upright transverse sect-ion on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;.

Figure 9 is a attachment.

Figure 10 is an end the left.

Figure ll is a transverse sect-ionthrough the yoke and connected parts.

Flgures 12 and 13 are sectional details.

elevation looking from Figure 1e is a rear perspective view of the Y attachment detached.

i 'ur 5 i V t' f n i p e i 1s aperspec we view o a InOCll ncatron. V e V V F gure 16 1s a top plan view of the same.

Flgure 17 1s a plan view of a detail.

Figure 18 is a sectional view through the line 18-18 of Figure 16. Referring now to the details of the drawings by letters: A isthe frame of a sewing machine which may be of any desired character but which, in the embodiment illus trated, is the Willcox thread machine, having" a main shaft B, op

front view of part of the & Gibbs multiple erated by a loose pulley C with which cooperates any desired form of clutch D (shown in conventionalform). the latter arranged to be thrown on and off by means of a clutch lever E. In the form shown this clutch lever E is pivoted at E to the arm F (Figure 14) and it has a yoke E co-operating with a movable clutch ring D of the clutch D so that when the yoke E is thrown 1 in the'.direction of the arrow in Figures 1 and 14, the clutch is thrown to release the pulley from shaft B to stop the machine, the throwing of the clutch being in this case accomplished by pressure of the yoke, E leftward against the clutch ring, D whereby said ring is pressed leftward for disengaging the pulley. C, from the main shaft. B. l Vhen the yoke, E has thus been shifted leftward. it continues to bear against the clutch ring and therebyserves as a friction brake to stop the main shaft, said clutch ring being in engement with a clutch member which is immovably secured to the main shaft. F or a detail description of such a clutch, I refer to my application, Serial. No. 456,415, filed by me March 28, 1921, for Letters Patent of the United States for an improvement in clutches. Said clutch lever E is pivotally carried by any suitablesupport, but as shown by an arm F forming part of a horizontal frame member F and the latter may be supported, for example, by means of two standards G and G Said standards, in the embodiment illus- E and is designed to operatetlie' clutch, when trated, are connected by means of a horizontal brace G and they form a support for the other parts shown in Figure 14-, such,

for example, as thelongitudinally movable rod H which is jointed to the clutch lever released, an expansion coiled spring I being em'plo 'ed which tends tonormally move the rod in the direction of the arrow in Figure 14, said spring acting, for example, between the said standard G and a collar H on'saidv r'odH. The rod H is preferablyprovided with a handle such as shown latch arm H, the spring I is permitted to push the" rodH longitudinally in the direction of the arrow in Figure 14; to move the clutch lever E on its pivot E toshift the clutch and release it from the pulley C,

whereupon the latter is free to rotate with respect to the clutch and its shaft H so that" the latter is no longer rotated, and the machine comes to astop.

The said latch J has a latch lug J and is pivoted at J to a block as J mounted on the frame bar F and the upper face of this block J 3 also serves as a support upon which the rear part of the latch arm H may rest and slide. To said blockJ is also fixed an- 7 upper horizontal guide bar J? which is spaced from the bldck J far enough to permit, the latch arm H to slide under it. Thus the latch arm slides uponthe block J and is prevented from any vertical movement by the spaced guide bar J. The free end of.

the latch J is connected by a wire link J to .an arm K (weighted at K forming part of a horizontal yoke K pivoted at K to the frame members L and L rising from the horizontal frame members F (Figures 1, 4, ll and 14), the upper ends of said members. L and L being connected by'a horizontal shaft M. llpon said shaft M are pivotally,

supported one or more thread guiding bars N which project downwardly from said shaft M and normally rest uponthe frame member F Each of the upper rcarends of said thread'guiding bars N has a finger N and saidlingers are positioned to bear upon the aforesaid yoke K when the lower free end of any of said bars is raised. It

follows that should any one of said thread guiding bars N be lifted, its rear finger N is caused to move downward (Figure 5) and press against the yokeK, thus causing'the latter to rock on its pivots K for the lifting of its arm Kt to draw upwardly the wire J to lift the latch d and-thereby release the bar H to permit the spring I to push the rodH endwise and thereby shift the clutch. These pivoted bars N all normally hang v downward by gravity and rest upon the horizontal frame member F as shown in Figure 5 and there are as many of the bars N as there are threads T used in the machine, and they are intended to i be lifted or raised should any of the threads T have a knotor any other obstruction which, if allowed to pass to the needle, would break or damage,

To this end, the thread or threads the same. 7 before passing to the needle or needles all pass'under a bar as 0 having separating;

fingers O and then through notches or slits P in'a thread bar P. This bar 0 and. the thread'bar P are supported on a horizontal plate Q which is in turn supportedonthe iei rpper end of the standardGr and on a'brace P are j ust the proper size to permit a thread to pass through the same without any undue frictionbut should any of the threadshave a knot, T (Fig. 5) therein, it would be too large to pass through the slit of the threadbar P; The rear part ofthe thread bar P is rounded as shown at P in Figure Q to prevent the cutting of the thread as itpasses From this thread bar P, the thread or threads pass downwardly and downward.

through eyes or loops N onthe lower ends of the aforesaid pivoted bars N, and after passingtherethrough, thethread orthreads pass up to a second'thread bar R also mounted on the'plate Q and through slits or openings R therein and from thence to the tension device (not. shown) and finally to the needle or needles. Said second thread bar R has its front part rounded at R (Figure 3 to prevent cutting ofthe thread.

It will be manifestthat should one of the threadshave a knot therein as shown in; Figure 7, the part ofthe thread having the The notches or slits in said thread bar V knot will be caught by the thread bar P and 7 held against movement. Hence as the other end of the thread is being continually drawnforward by the needle and feed mechanism, it follows that the thread between-the needle and the knot against the thread bar P will become shorter, thus drawing 'upwardly the free end of its pivoted thread bar N to the point'shown in Figure 7; This" movement causes the, rear finger "N of the appropriate bar N to press downwardupon the yoke K for the tilting of the-latteras already described,.whereby the latch -mechanism is operated for tliexrelease of the rod H. V

In operation, assuming the threador threads havebeen properly run through my attachment to the needle or needles, all that it is necessary to do in order to start the machine is for the operator to pull the handle H against the tension of the spring I. This slight movement of said handle moves the clutch lever E and the yoke E soas to connect the loosepulley C to the clutch and the machine then automatically starts, the pulley being in constant operation.

The thread i or threads will now pass through my attachment and the machine will run continuously, so far as the attachment is concerned, unless one of the threads has a knot or some other obstruction too large to pass through its appropriate slit in the thread bar P. When such a knot moves against said thread bar P, that partof the thread will be prevented from further movement but the machine will continue to draw the otherend of the thread so that the thread between the needle and the thread bar P becomes shorter, thus drawing the appropriate pivoted bar Nfrom the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown in Figure 7. This movement of the pivoted bar N will cause its finger N to move against theyoke K drawing upon the wire J as hereinafter described and lifting the pivoted latch J from the position shown in Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 8, so that the spring I compels the rodH to move in the directionof the arrow shown in Figures 1 and 1%, thereby moving the clutch lever E to 4 throw the clutch yolte E to release the clutch D from thevconstantly rotating pulley C. Thus the machine will be allowed to stop so that the knot may be removed and the needle re-threaded, and the knot never reach the needle to break the same ant possibly damage the goods being sewed.

, As above stated, the yoke, E performs the double function of disengaging the clutch and of pressing against the clutch ring D so as to instantly exert a brake action for stopping the main shaft, such action overcoming momentum in said shaft and in moving'parts connected to said shaft.

Regarding the la ch mechanism, it is to be further observed that each thread guiding bar, N, is a hingedgravity member in the form of a lever having its long arm engaged by a thread forguiding the thread and for hitting the long arm of said member when the forward movement of the thread is arrested by the relatively stationary thread guiding bar, P, and as shown; by the drawings, the short arm of said lever or' gravity member is much shorter than the long arm and it makes engagement with the yoke, K, for moving the yoke. Therefore,

when the forward movement of the thread is arrested andthe part of the thread between the bar, P, and the needle is shortened by the action of the needle and thefeed members, the effect of thestr-ain transmitportant, because reliable ted through said part of the thread for the lifting of the lever or gravity member, N. is multiplied in proportion to the length of the long arm to the length of the short arm of the lever. Furthermore, the tl read is so applied to the lever, N, as to cause a doubling of the effect of the strain of the thread for lifting said long arm. For the thread i held stationary at the bar, P, and is drawn upward only at the bar, R. Thus the eye, N is lifted as though it were a pulley similarly hung by arope only half as fast as thread moves upward to the thread guiding bar, These two means of amplifying the effect of the thread strain are imaction of the latch mechanism results.

From the foregoing and the accompanying drawings it will be seen that l have inventeda simple attachment which may be easily applied to machines now in use, in

which provision is made for either one or a plurality of threads all of which are arranged to operate a common latch to release the single clutch throwing lever and prevent a knot in the thread rrom reaching the needle to break or damage the same and thus necessitate the replacing of the needle and also avoiding injury to the goods being sewed.

Manifest-1y the same mechanism may be made a part of a new machine,and, in fact the claims are not limited to the mechanism shown. For instance, other forms of latch mechanism may be employed, and as one instance I would refer to the construction shown in Figures 15 to 18 inclusive. In these figures, the yoke K may be operated by the pivoted bars N in identically the same manner as the yoke K in the other figures of the drawing, but instead of having the wire J the yoke K is provided with a horizontal arm K shown in Figures 15 and 17, and directed toward the clutch end of the machine. The end of this arm K is constructed and arranged to co-act with an rock shaft K is journaled in a block K somewhat similar to the block J of Figure 14: and said rock shaft K is furthermore provided. with tvo arms K and K Coacting with these arms is an arm H project ing from the spring operated rod H, the latter being identical with that shown in Figures 1 to 14. When the device is to be set 7 the operator draws the rod H in'the direction. opposite to the'arrow in Figures oscillate the rock shaft K so that the arm" K -will interlock with the arm K and hold the parts latched in the position shown in Figure 15. The spring pressed rod H havthe arrows inFigures and 16 is held from movement by reason of the fact that its'arm: H cannot move since itis held by the shoulder K on the arm K" and the latter and its rock shaft K are held innn'ovable by the interlocking. of the arms K and K However, i

as soon as the'yoke K is operated by a knot 'in the thread, to lift the arm K, the arm K of the vertical rock shaft K is released,

thus permitting the spring to move the rod H toward the right as viewed 111 F1gure16,

the arm H of said rod H pushing the arm' K clockwise or to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 16 until contact is" made with the stop post K When it is desiredto reset the device the operator as above'stated, merely moves the rod H- in the direction opposite to the arrows, whereupon the arm H enga es the arm K and hence the rock shaft IQ and all the parts supported thereby are turned contra-clockwise into the position shown in igure 16, such movement being far enough to again permit the interlocking of the arms K and Other modifications may" of coursebe employed and where, 1n the followlng claims, I use the expression latch mechanism, I intend to cover any mechanismintervening the spring operated bar and the threads, whereby when the movement of the thread is arrested to shorten the thread, the latch" mechanism is actuated to permit'the spring-operated rod to shift the clutch.

I claim as my invention,

1 In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, an endwise slid'able rod, a spring tending to slide said red, endwise in one direction, a latch mechanism applied to said' rod between its ends and comprising movable members and a stationary member adapted to make engagement with an obstruction or enlargement on the thread whereby the thread is shortened between the needle and said stationary memmitthreads to freely pass through the same and constructed to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot or other enlargement in inga tendency to move in the direction of A nism applied to said rod between its ends the thread moves against said stationary member, thereby shortening the thread and operating said movable members, substantially as described. r

3. Inia sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, an endwise slid able rod, a spring tending to "slide saidrfrod' endwise in one direction, a latch 'me'chaand comprising movable members and a stationary member adapted to engage and hold'an obstruction orenlargement ofthe thread, whereby, by the actioiiof the sewing engage an obstruction or enlargement of the thread whereby the thread is shortened'between the needle and latch mechanism, said mechanism also including a hinged member guiding the thread and movable by i theshortening of the thread to actuate said;

latch, substantially as described.

5. In a sewing machine and in combina-v tion with the clutch thereof, a latclrmechanism in operative relation with said clutch and comprising a stationary member having passages adaptedtoperm1t threads to freely pass through the same and constructed to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot orother enlargement moves against said sta tionary member, thereby shortening the thread, said mechanism also" including av hinged member guiding the thread and movable by the shortening of the thread to operate the latch, substantially as described.-

6. Ina sewing machine and in combination with' the clutch thereof; a latch mecha-l nism in operative relation with said clutch and comprising a substantially fixed member 7 having passages adapted to permit threads to freely pass'through the same and constructed to arrest the movement 'ofythe,

thread if a knot or other enlargement moves agalnst' said latch mechanism, thereby shortening the thread, and a hinged member guiding the thread and movable by the i shortening of the thread for operating the V latch, substantially as'described. 7. In a sewing machlne and in combination with the clutch thereof, an endwise substantially as described.

also including a shift-able latch member movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate said shiitable member, substantially as described. 1

8.'In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, an. endwise slidable rod, a spring tending to slide said rod endwise in one direction. a latch mechanism applied to said rod between its ends and having in a stationary member a passage adaptedto permit thread to freely pass through the same and constructed to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot or other enlargement moves against said stationary member, thereby shortening the thread, said mechanism also including a shiftable latch member movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate said shiftable member, substantially as described 9. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said clutch and constructed and adapted to be actuated through engagement by an obstruction or enlargement of the thread whereby the thread is shortened between the needle and latch mechanism, said mechanism also including "a shift-able latch and a hinged gravity operating member controlling said latch and guiding the -thread and movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate the latch,

"substantially as described.

10. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a latch mecha nism in operative relation with said clutch and having a passage adapted to permit thread to freely pass through the same and to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot or other enlargment moves against said latch mechanism, thereby. shortening the thread, said mechanism also including a shiftable latch, and a hinged gravity operat ing member controlling said latch and guiding the thread andmovable by the shortening of the thread to actuate the latch, substantially as described. I

11. In a sewing machine and in COIllbli'ltltion with the clutch thereof,a latch mecha nism in operative relation with said clutch and constructed and adapted to be actuated through engagement by an obstruction or enlargement of the thread whereby the thread is shortened between the needle and latch-mechanism, said mechanism also including a shiftable latch, a yoke and weighted lever cooperating with-said latch, and a hinged gravity operating member controlling said yoke and latch and guiding the thread and movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate the yoke and latch,

12. In a sewing machine. and in combina tion wlth the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise shdable rod controlling said clutch, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said rod constructed and comprising a stationary member adapted to guide thread and to engage an obstruction or enlargement of the thread whereby the thread is shortened between the needle and latch mechanism, said mechanism also including a hinged member guiding the thread and movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate said latch to release said rod, substantially as described 1 18. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, alatch mechanism in operative rela' tion with said rod and having a stationary member in which are passages adapted to permit threads to freely pass through the same and constructed to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot or other enlargement moves against said stationary member, thereby shortening the thread, said mechanism also including a hinged member movable by the shortening of the thread to operate the latch to release said rod, substantially as described.

14. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said rod and comprising a substantially fixed member having passages adapted to permit threads to freely pass through the same and constructed to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot or other enlargement moves against said fixed member, thereby shortening the thread, and a hinged member movable by the shortening of the thread for operating the latch to release said rod, substantially as described.

15. In a sewing machine and in combina tion with the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch. a latch mechanism. applied to said rod between its ends and comprising stationary means constructed and adapted to guide individual threads and to engage an obstruction or enlargement of the thread whereby the thread is shortened between the needle and latch mechanism. said mechanism also including a shiftable latch movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate the same to release said rod, substantially as described.

16. In a. sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a latch mechanism applied to said rod between its ends and comprising a stationary shortening of the thread to actuate the same to release said rod, substantially as described.

17. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a springiopcrated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said rod and constructed and adapted to be actuated through engagement by an obstruction or enlargement of the thread whereby the threadis shortened be tween the needle and latch mechanism, uaid mechanism also including a shiftable latch, a yoke and weighted lever cooperating with said latch, and a gravity operating hinged member controlling said yoke and iatch and guiding the thread and movable by the shortening of the thread to actuate the yoke and latch to release said rod, substantially as described. v

18. In a sewing machine and in combina tion with the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said clutch and. having passages adapted to permit threads to itrpa through the same and constructed to arrest the movement of the thread it a knot or other enlargement moves against said latch mechanism thereby shortening the th 'ead, said mechanism also inc-hiding a shifftable I latch, a yoke, and a weighted lever cooperah ing'with said latch, and a gravityoperating hinged member controlling said yoke and latch and movable by the shortening oil? the thread to actuate the yoke and latch to release said rod, substantially as described.

.19. In a sewing machine and in combinat on with the clutch thereof, a latch mechan1sm in operative relation with said clutch and comprising a thread bar with a passage permitting free passage of the .thread but constructed to arrest the movement oi the thread if a knot or other enlargement moves against said thread bar, a hinged member operatively connected with the latch and constructed to guide the thread, and a second thread bar to guide the thread after it leaves said hinged member, substantially as described.

I 20.111 a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a latch mechanlsm in operative relation with said clutch and comprising a thread bar with a passage permittingfree passage of the tnread but constructed to arrest the movement oi; the

thread if a knot or other enlargement moves against said thread bar, a hinged member constructed to guide the thread, a yoke in operative relation witlrthe latch and said hinged member, and a second thread. bar to guide the thread after it leaves said hinged member, substantially as described. L

21. In a sewing machine and in combina tion with the clutch thereof, a, spring operated, endwise slidable rod, a latch mechanism 111 operative relation w1th sa1d rod for controlling said clutch, said latch mechanism comprising a threadbarjsupport, a thread bar seated on said supportiand havmg a passage permitting free passage of the thread butconstructed to arrest the movement of the thread if a knot or other enlarge-V ment moves against said thread bar, a hinged member operatively connected with the latch and constructedto have the thread engage the same,'anda second thread bar on said support and serving to guide the thread after it leaves said movable member, substantially as described.

and comprising a shiftable latch, asuppoirb v ing plate, a slitted thread guidingbar thereon, a support, a yoke connected with saidshiftable latch andoperatedby said gravity member, and a second thread guiding bar carried by said plate,.each of said thread guiding bars having rounded parts to prevent cutting the thread, substantially as described. 4

2 1-. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a spring-actuated, endwise siidable rod connected with said clutch, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said rod and comprising a shiitable latch, a supporting plate, a slitted thread guiding bar thereon, a gravity operating member under :saidsupport, a yoke avity operating member, under said 7 operativerelation to said rod and. compris ing a shiftable latch, a supporting plate, a

slitted thread guiding hart-hereon, gravity operating member under said support, a yoke connected with said shiftahle latch and operated by said gravity member, and a sec-- ond thread guiding bar carried by said plate, each of saidthreadguiding bars hav ing rounded parts to prevent, cutting the thread, substantially as described ment arr and comprising 26. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof,a latch mechahinged members. each constructed to operate said clutch if a knot or enlargement arrests the movement of the thread, said latch being released by the movementof any one of said plurality of hinged members to effect the operation of said clutch, substantially as described. 1 V 7 27. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said clutch and comprising a shiftable latch and a plurality of hinged members, each constructed to operate said latch if a knot or enlargecsts the movement of the thread, said latch being shifted and released by the movement of any one of said plurality of hinged membersto effect the operation of said clutch, substantially 'aS described.

28. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, an endwise slidable rod, a spring tending to slide said rod endwise in one direction, a latch mechanism applied to said rod between its ends i a, relatively stationary thread bar having a plurality of passages therein 'to permit threads to freely pass through said passagesand constructed to arrest any of said threads ifa knot or enlargement moves against saidrbar, all of said threads affecting the single latch 1f any one of them is obstructed, substantially. as described. a 29. In a sewing machineand 1n combination with the clutch thereof, alatch mechanism in operative relation with said clutch' and comprising a plurality of hinged members, each constructed to operate said clutch,

a relatively stationary thread bar having a plurality of passages perm tting the threads to freely pass through the same but arranged to arrest the thread if a knot or enlargement moves against said thread bar whereby the thread is shortened and its appropriate hinged member operated to release said latch, substantially as described.

30. In. asewingmachine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a spring tending tofslide said rod endwise in one direction, a latch mechanism in operative relative with saidrod andcomprising a shiftable latch anda plurality of bin ged members, each constructed to operate said latch if a knot or enlargement arrests the movement of the thread, said latch be ing shifted and released by the movement of anyone of said plurality of: hinged memhere to effect the operationof said clutch, substantially as described. i 1 j 31;. In a sewing machine and incombinationwith the clutch thereof a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a spring tending to slide said rod endwise in one direction, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said rod and comprising a relatively stationary thread bar having a plurality of passages therein to permit threads to freely pass through said passages and constructed to arrest any of said threads if a knot or enlargement moves againstsaid member, any of said threads affecting the latch if any one of them is obstructed, substantially describedf 32. In a sewing machine and in combination with the clutch thereof, a spring oper ated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a-sprine tending to'slide said rod endwise in one direction, a latch mechanism in operative relation with said rod and comprising a-plurality of hinged members, eachconstructed to operate said clutch, a relatively stationarythread bar having a plurality of passages permitting the threads to freely pass through the same but arranged to arrest the thread if a knot or enlargement moves against said thread bar whereby the thread is shortened and its ap propriate movable memberis operated to release the latch, substantially as described. In a sewingmachine and in combination witha clutch, a latch in? operative relation with saidclutch, a spring held under restraint when the latch is engaged, a plurality:of hinged members all co-acting with said latch and arranged to release the same if any of said members is'moved, and a relatively stationary thread bar having a plurality of passages guiding threads to said members and arranged to arrest any of said threads if a knot or obstruction moves against the thread bar whereby the arrested thread is shortened-to lift its appropriate hinged member to release said latch, substantially as described.

3a. In a sewing machine and in'combination with a clutch,a shiftable latch in operative relation with said clutch, a spring held under restraint when-the latch is engaged, a plurality of hinged members all co-acting with said latch and arranged to shift and release the same if any of said members is moved," and a relatively stationary thread bar having a plurality, of passages guiding threads to 'said members and arranged to arrest any of the threads if a knot or obstruction moves against thethread bar whereby the arrestedthread is shortened to lift its appropriate hinged member to release said latch, substantiallyas described." i a 35. In asewing machine and in combination with a clutch, a spring operated, endwise slidable rod controlling said clutch, a spring tending to slide said rod endwise in one direction, a latch in operative relation with said rod, a plurality, of members all coacting with said latch'and arranged to re- 

